Letters (letter-press copies) written by Dr. John Wesley Monette (b. April 5, 1803–d. March 1, 1851) during the period from 1845 to 1851 from Washington and Islington Plantation, Madison Parish, La. Thirteen (September 27, 1845–June 8, 1850) of the letters addressed to Harper and Brothers, New York, N.Y., in regard to Monette's History of the Discovery and Settlement of the Valley of the Mississippi, by the three Great European Powers, Spain, France, and Great Britain, and the Subsequent Occupation, Settlement, and Extension of Civil Government by the United States, until the Year 1846 (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1846, 2 vols.).

Forty-four of the letters (October 12, 1845–April 29, 1850) are addressed to Buckner and Stanton, factors, New Orleans, La.; 17 letters (October. 10, 1849–January 7, 1850) are addressed to Fellowes, Johnson and Company or Fellowes and Company, factors, New Orleans, La.; one letter (January 13, 1846) is to S. S. Prentiss; and two letters (August 11 and September 9, 1847) are to C. K. Marshall.

Also included in this collection are manuscript copies of two poems composed by Dr. John Wesley Monette (1803–1851), entitled "Satirical Poem" and "Ode to July 4th." The poems were copied by Dr. George Monette, son of the author.